Spike clamp and fastener.



Ho 0. GRIPPEN.

SPIKE CLAMP AND PASTENER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.17, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1,

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HERBERT O. CBIIPPEN, OF SANFORD, FLORIDA.

SPIKE CLAME AND FASTENER.

tliitlut l fi To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT O. CRIPPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanford, in the county of Orange and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Spike Clamps and Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in clamps and fasteners for the spikes of rails or other purposes generally, and the invention has for its primary object a simple, durable, and etlicient construction of device of this character which will securely hold the spike firmly in the tie or other part in which it is embedded so as to prevent it from loosening its hold upon the base flange of the rail or other part which it engages.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of parts which I shall hereinafter specifically describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing in which the device is illustrated as applied to a railway spike, Figure 1 illustrating, in perspective, the application of the device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, parts being shown in section, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the cap forming part of the clamp and fastener.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and denoted in the drawing by corresponding and like reference characters.

My improved spike clamp and fastener embodies a cap 1 which is adapted to fit over the head of a spike, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, said cap being preferably dished as indicated at 2 so as to properly correspond to the shape of the ordinary spike head, the said cap being preferably provided with side flanges 3 that are preferably beveled along their lower edges as indicated at 3. The cap 1 is also provided with a front depending flange 4 which is obliquely disposed as shown and which is designed to securely engage the front edge of the spike head.

A perforated ear 5 is secured to or formed integrally with the cap 1 and projects upwardly therefrom, and a link 6 is pivotally connected at one end to said ear. This link, in the present embodiment of the invention, is U-shape in cross section and straddles Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1999.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Serial No. 518,190.

the ear 5, the other end of said link straddling and being pivotally connected to the shank 7 of a clamping member 8. This clamping member embodies, in addition to its shank 7, a laterally projecting and preferably rounded head 9 which is adapted to take under the ball of a rail at the juncture thereof with the web. Manifestly, the link 6 and shank 7 constitute toggle-jointed members and they are formed at the joints with shoulders 10 adapted to abut when such members are forced past the center.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved spike clamp and fastener will be apparent.

In the practical use of the device after the spike has been embedded in the tie and brought down tightly against the base flange of the rail, the cap 1 is slipped over the head of the spike with its front flange 4L securely engaging the front edge of the'head. The head 9 of the clamping member is then slipped underneath the head of the rail and brought firmly up against the web at the juncture of the latter with the rail head and any suitable means are then employed for forcing the toggle jointed members past the center, which will cause the clamping device and fastener to exert considerable tension in a downward direction upon the head of the spike so as to securely hold the spike in place and prevent it from becoming loosened by the jarring of the trains over the rails or from. any other cause.

While I do not regard it as essential to the effective operation of my device, yet if de sired, the shank 7 and link 6 may be perforated near their joint connection, and a key 11 inserted through the registering apertures so as to lock the parts in an operative position.

It is to be understood that my improved spike clamp and fastener may be composed of any desired metal or material and that the invention is not limited to the construction, arrangement and proportions of the parts shown, as various modifications and changes may be made in the device without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. A spike clamp and fastener, comprising a cap adapted to fit over the head of a sp1ke, a clamping member adapted to take under the head of a rail, and a toggle con nection between the cap and clamping member.

2. A spike clamp and fastener, comprising a cap adapted to engage the head of a spike, a Clamping member formed with a head adapted to take under the head of a rail, and a link having a jointed connection with the clamping member and also connected to the cap, said link and clamping member being formed With shoulders adapted to abut upon the forcing of the link and clamping member past the center.

3. A spike clamp and fastener, comprising a cap, adapted to engage the head of a spike and formed with an obliquely disposed depending flange designed to engage the front edge of the spike head, a clamping member adapted to take under the head of a rail, and a. toggle connection between the clamping member and the cap.

4. A spike clamp and fastener, comprising a cap formed with a dished portion adapted to fit over the head of a spike, a clamping member adapted to take under the head of a rail, and a toggle connection between the ca p and the clamping member.

5. A spike clamp and fastener, comprising a cap adapted to enga e the head of a spike, the cap being provided with an upwardly projecting ear, a clamping member embodying a shank and a head the latter adapted to take under and engage the head of a rail, and a link having a pivotal connection with the shank and with the ear.

6. A spike clamp and fastener, comprising a cap adapted to engage the head of a spike, a clamping member arranged to take under and engage the head of a rail, and a link connection between the cap and clamping member, the link and clamping member being formed with apertures adapted to register for the reception of a key.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. J. N. WoousoN, FREDERICK ,S. S'rrr'r. 

